Politika building to be renovated – Rajic planning investment of EUR 40 million and turning into modern office space “tailor-made for journalists and other business people”

In front of the entrance to what was formerly 29 Makedonska Street, in which the premises of Politika, the oldest daily in the Balkans, have been located for decades, the address plaque has said “1 Politika Square” since 2016. Whether the journalists of the media house Politika novine i magazini are to remain in the building and at that address in the future has not been certain for a while now, and especially since, over two years ago, a company of Boban Rajic, Media 026, bought 50% of the ownership in Politika. In the past days, another company belonging to Rajic, M29, also bought the Politika building, which this media house had lost at one point due to unsettled debts toward a bank. From that point on, Politika rented premises in its former 17-floor building, in which it used part of the floors for the needs of the editorial staff, production, sales and management.

Ahead of the latest sale of the building, therefore, the question remains – what will happen to it, what will its future purpose be and will it remain home to Politika’s journalists, or will they be moved to a new address and the building given another purpose?

If the first interview of Boban Rajic (for Politika, in fact) following the purchase of this multi-story building is any indication, news articles will be written in the building at 1 Politika Square even after its reconstruction.

– This building is one of the symbols of Belgrade. Now both the capital and the ownership are in the hands of a Serbian company, the business entity M29. Following the renovation, it will be an exclusive modern building which follows the latest architectural trends, which will provide comfort to everybody who works and stays there. We plan to modernize the building and invest around EUR 40 million in its reconstruction. It will be a unique space by all its characteristics, tailor-made for journalists and other business people – said Rajic, whose words lead to the conclusion that, following the renovation, part of the space will still be used by Politika’s editorial staff, whereas the rest of the space will be rented out.

When asked whether that means that, in the year when Politika is celebrating its 120th anniversary, the journalists of the oldest daily in the Balkans should not fear potential moving to another location, Rajic emphasized that “with the purchase of the building, all the fears that the journalists of Politika novine i magazini could lose the space that they have been working in for decades are removed.”

– The edifice should also remain recognized for its eponymous daily and the journalists working there – pointed out Rajic.

It is not known yet when the reconstruction might begin or whether, during it, the building will be fully emptied out temporarily.

D. A.

Politika novine i magazini Beograd

M29 doo Beograd

MEDIA 026 DOO

Politika novine i magazini

Politika NiM

M29 doo Beograd

Media 026 doo Vučak

Boban Rajić

Goran Vesić

Uglješa Bogunović

Slobodan Janjić

Politika building

sale of Politika building

reconstruction of Politika building